Rider 2023.2 is now generally available. This version contains improvements to C# language support. They are related to code readability and improve the programming experience. Further, there are some UI/UX enhancements. JetBrains also presented AI Assistant, which for now has limited access.
Rider 2023.2 introduces a number of improvements to C# language support, improving the programming experience for developers. One of the key new features is improved support for raw string literals with new inspections, contextual actions and improved typing assistance, making working with these literals smoother. For developers working with the Entity Framework, Rider now offers specialised inspections and quick fixes for common problems, improving debugging and increasing productivity.
Another feature is the focus on code readability. Two new inspections and corresponding quick fixes have been added to improve code clarity when handling local functions. In addition, Rider introduces inspections for #nullable directives and null-allowing reference type (NRT) annotations, simplifying the management of null-allowing types. Navigation becomes more intuitive with improved handling of var declarations, helping with code exploration and understanding.
Moreover, Rider takes advantage of the latest developments in the C# language, offering support for the main constructor for non-record classes and structures from the familiarisation version of C# 12. Default parameter values in lambda expressions provide flexibility in function definitions. The tool also introduces new code inspections, providing better control over object deletion and improved support for C# language rejection, improving code quality and reliability. These updates enable Rider to offer an efficient and user-friendly environment for C# developers.
The new release contains changes within UX/UI. There are several features, including colour-coded project navigation to distinguish between open projects easily. It is possible to customise the colours of the header and even set a custom icon for a solution. In addition, the main UI toolbar is now customisable, offering a drop-down menu to add preferred actions for easy access quickly. Managing run configurations has been simplified with the option to pin preferred configurations in the Run widget, improving project organisation. Other UI enhancements include a redesigned hamburger menu, a light theme with luminous headers, one-click navigation between project directories, sorting files by modification time in the Solution Explorer, and updated window controls for macOS.
This release additionally adds a new feature to Rider with limited access called AI Assistant. It offers various AI-based functions that integrate seamlessly into the core workflows of the IDE. AI Assistant can analyse selected code, explain the meaning of validations or errors at runtime, generate documentation and create Unity files based on requirements.
Below one of the LinkedIn posts appeared a question:
Is the waiting list long for AI Assistant and does it play nicely with GitHub Copilot?
JetBrains answered that AI Assistant does not interfere with GitHub Copilot, and as for the waiting list, it is currently almost empty, so it is possible to join without difficulty.
For more information on all these features, there is an opportunity to review the full list of requests that JetBrains has addressed in this release cycle in their public bug tracking tool.